Machine helps rebuild war-torn areas by turning rubble into bricks

The Australian nonprofit has been shipping its small factories to support recovery efforts in Ukraine.
 By 
Teodosia Dobriyanova
 on 
A Mashable collage a yellow arrows pointing at  three of the blocks (foreground). The background image is a drone shot of destroyed buildings in Ukraine.
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Founded by engineers from Perth, Australia, Mobile Crisis Construction is a nonprofit creating machines that turn debris – cement, glass, and local raw materials — into interlocking blocks, just like a Lego set. Their design allows even untrained workers to build housing, and do so quickly, which is crucial in areas where shelling has destroyed the homes of entire communities.

The nonprofit began operations in an attempt to help rebuilding efforts in Ukraine after witnessing the destruction imposed by Russia's full-scale invasion.

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A long-term goal for Mobile Crisis Construction is to deploy their machines in other war-torn countries too, but the biggest challenge ahead is the cost of producing a single mobile factory, which currently amounts to $120 000 AUD per unit. To continue their work and expand beyond Ukraine, the nonprofit is currently raising donations.

Picture of Teodosia
Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


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